Letters

Protected, but from what?

THE three Ringland councillors are patting themselves on the back for getting an area of green space on the Ringland estate protected from development.

Ringland Top has been designated a QE2 field to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, which means it can be used only for recreation.

The request to protect the site came from residents on the estate, but the site was never at risk.

One of the local councillors said this was a “long time in coming,” as though some battle had been won.

It hasn’t..

Nothing has changed with Ringland Top. It was green and open and it’s still green and open.

So while it is welcome that Ringland Top (and Belle Vue Park) are protected, residents in other areas of Newport would also like to hear that their respective parks and open spaces can be given
similar consideration.

Well done. If you live in Rogerstone, some of the public open spaces have also been given this field in trust status. But for another community owned greenfield, Bethesda Field, the fate has not been a happy one and was a legal agreement was already set in principle before the public exhibition took place in early 2011. This lovely field even though not an open space was used by the public for walking their dogs but the councillors (some not even elected but co-opted) did not even consult with the residents or advertise it was up for sale and for a housing development. the previous administration have a lot to answer to & they think they have got away it. Just make sure people if you read this - wise words to you - make sure your green spaces are protected from the hands of people who you believe are elected to serve you, otherwise you will find your greenfields up for housing development! More planning laws are likely to become deregulated by Westminster and at some point will be taken on by WAG.

Well done. If you live in Rogerstone, some of the public open spaces have also been given this field in trust status. But for another community owned greenfield, Bethesda Field, the fate has not been a happy one and was a legal agreement was already set in principle before the public exhibition took place in early 2011. This lovely field even though not an open space was used by the public for walking their dogs but the councillors (some not even elected but co-opted) did not even consult with the residents or advertise it was up for sale and for a housing development. the previous administration have a lot to answer to & they think they have got away it. Just make sure people if you read this - wise words to you - make sure your green spaces are protected from the hands of people who you believe are elected to serve you, otherwise you will find your greenfields up for housing development! More planning laws are likely to become deregulated by Westminster and at some point will be taken on by WAG.disillusioned of Newport